Awardee of the Black Pearl Member Award 2024: Dr Ritu Jain

Congratulations to Dr Ritu Jain, Senior Lecturer and Asst. Chair of SoH, on receiving the European Organisation of Rare Diseases Black Pearl Member Award on behalf of her organisation, DEBRA International in Brussels, on 20 Feb 2024. DEBRA is the international alliance of 50 national DEBRA and other epidermolysis bullosa (EB) advocacy groups working towards improving the lives of those living with EB, a group of rare, genetic skin disorders.

 

 

The award recognises the provision of much-needed support for members of the rare disease community affected by conflicts and natural disasters, particularly in Ukraine, Turkey, and Syria in 2022-2023. Through swift community mobilisation and strategic alliances, including a significant collaboration with the Singapore Red Cross, DEBRA provided vital assistance through the distribution of humanitarian aid to patients and hospitals along the Polish-Ukraine border. The initiative also demonstrated to the Red Cross the specific and urgent unmet needs of rare disease populations in zones of natural disasters and conflict. It has led to the permanent earmarking of a portion of all funds raised by Red Cross Singapore for rare disease populations in future humanitarian projects.

Read more: https://www.eurordis.org/black-pearl-awards/awardees/